Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Auschwitz & Birkenau

After many hours of traveling and seeing Krakow, today was a very somber one.  Another day to rise early and then took the bus to Auschwitz.  We all took a  tour of the Auschwitz Muzeum, thinking about those that we lost and always remembering to NEVER FORGET.  From there we went over to Auschwitz II (Birkenau) where we walked the grounds of the camp, thinking of those that came before us and knowing how we all have the freedom to walk in and out of the gates at will when our ancestors didn't have the choice.  An exhausting, but such an important day to take in for ourselves and witness first hand of the atrocities of the Holocaust and may the memory of those lost be a blessing.

Gate sign outside Auschwitz 
"Arbeit Macht Frei" - work sets you free

Prepping for our tour of Auschwitz


Fence outside Auschwitz

Just inside Auschwitz

View of train tracks/guard stand in barracks

Barracks

Up close view of barbed wire fence

Guard stand 

View from train tracks just inside Birkenau

Birkenau barracks (or what's remaining)

Students inside Birkenau

Student pondering what came before him..

Picture says it all

Cattle car

Students placing rocks in memoriam on the cattle car

Students looking at the old crematorium

So peaceful and serene

Ceremony inside Birkenau

Guard Stand